Treatment

Talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. This may involve:

Treating the cause of the myelopathy

Improving functions that you have lost

Reducing or managing pain

Doing strengthening exercises

Teaching you ways to reduce injuries

Helping you learn ways to cope with the condition

Surgery

If there is structural pressure on the spinal cord, you may need surgery right away. This is to attempt to avoid lasting injury. There are many different kinds of surgery and procedures to stabilize the neck, such as:

Discectomy—to remove part of an intervertebral disc that is putting pressure on the spinal cord or nerve root

Laminectomy—a surgical procedure to remove a portion of a vertebra, called the lamina

Fusion of the vertebrae

Cervical Fusion

Screws and a plate prevent the vertebrae from putting pressure on the spinal cord.

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.